Father of Apalachee High shooter arrested! Colin Gray, dad of 14-year-old Colt Gray – charged in the deadly school shooting – has been hit with serious criminal charges, officials revealed Thursday.
Colin Gray Faces Manslaughter, Murder & Child Cruelty Charges
The 54-year-old was taken into custody and slapped with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder, and eight counts of cruelty to children, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirmed. These charges come after his son allegedly opened fire at Apalachee High School, resulting in four deaths and several injuries.
Deadly Rampage Rocks Georgia School
The horror unfolded Wednesday when Colt Gray allegedly used a semi-automatic assault-style rifle to shoot two students – Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14 – and two teachers, Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Christina Irimie, 53. Nine others were wounded, including eight students and one teacher. Thankfully, all survivors are expected to recover, said Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith.
Authorities say Colin Gray’s charges relate to allegedly letting his son have access to firearms. The GBI promised a press conference later Thursday to spill more details.
Warnings Missed: Earlier Red Flags Ignored
Investigations show Colt Gray was already under scrutiny in May 2023 after alarming online threats surfaced via Discord. But cops couldn’t find enough proof to press charges back then.
Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum said, “We did all we could with the information available at the time.”
Colin Gray had spoken openly about Colt’s struggles with bullying and their parents’ separation. The youngster regularly went hunting with his dad. Sheriff’s investigators confirmed Colt had access to guns at home — though Colin insisted they were kept unloaded.
Ongoing Investigation, National Outcry
Colt Gray was arrested soon after the shooting at Apalachee High, located about 45 miles outside Atlanta in Winder, Georgia. Authorities have yet to reveal how Colt got hold of the weapon or sneaked it into the school.
The investigation is still unfolding, with agencies probing warning signs and parental responsibility.
The tragedy marks the 30th mass shooting in the US in 2024, according to the Associated Press, USA Today, and Northeastern University data.
This latest incident has reignited furious debate across America about gun control laws and the duty of parents to keep firearms away from troubled minors.
